Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Last Friday I had an experience that will be with me until the day I die: I attended a retirement party given in my honor at my university.It was an incredible extravaganza (I have some very creative colleagues) that included not only speeches but songs with rewritten lyrics, a video of people talking about me, and . . .

The front of the crown

A crown!!! This amazing piece of art was made by my dear colleague Margaret, an artist as well as a university employee. Margaret poured all her talent into crafting this beautiful memento. I wore it for a minute, but didn't want it to fall off and break, so it sat on the pillow she also made.

It includes many things that are so meaningful to me -- the snakes represent my long interest in the Medusa; there's a griffon and a dragon, representing my overall interest in mythology, words related to my teaching and books, books, books all over it.

The interior of the crown

It was such a wonderful event -- I felt that I could hardly deserve all of the attention and affection. Happily, my son and daughter were there, as well as my husband -- I wasn't sure my son would make it, but I browbeat him until he came. His comment: "I didn't know it was going to be this big of a deal!"

The side of the crown

It was a big deal, seriously. I was sure I would cry, but in fact I laughed all the way through it, it was so delightful. The only time I choked up was when I had to give thanks for everything they'd done.

Me, looking silly/happy in my crown

Here's a fuzzy cell phone picof me wearing the crown. It was a very, very happy day of my life.

Monday, November 5, 2012

I've been away far too long! Ana Eugenio was kind enough to posta comment wondering if everything was fine with me. It is! Here's what I've been up to:

1. I was sad for a while after my sister left -- it's so hard to say goodbye. We live so far apart and get together so seldom, and the wonderful time we have together is always tinged by the knowing that it has to end.

2. I've started on South Beach diet and have been enjoying myself so far. No problems, and the scale is starting to go down.

3. Still dealing with the aftermath of Open Studios, though my house is looking more normal than it did. I have to take all the (many) pictures I didn't sell to the storage space, and that necessitates rearranging everything, but a friend and I are going to get that done on Thursday (I hope).

4. Been working on my collage class, not sure I'm happy with anything yet. I did a nice picture in watercolor class, though (!) and I'll post it soon.

A collage -- does it make any sense to anyone?

5. I got the results of my DNA analysis from Ancestry.com today -- more about that in another post! It's soooo interesting. And a gigantic sinkhole of time, as I'm sure some of you know --

6. On Wednesday I have an appointment with someone from the Small Business center to talk about my small business! I'm hoping to get some advice and guidance.

7. It was 92 degrees today! It's November! And supposed to be in the 50's by Thursday -- I'm just confused . . .

8. To my American friends -- tomorrow is the big day. You're probably already planning to, but please: vote, vote, vote!! It doesn't matter whom you're voting for -- but the process is so important for us to participate in as citizens.*

So that's a little bit of what I've been up to. I'll write more details tomorrow, and visit to catch up! Hope your week has started well.

Who's Talking to You?

Elise Ann Wormuth

I am a retired college English professor who has reinvented herself as a fine art photographer, watercolor painter, and genealogist (among other things). I've spent my working life teaching other people to write, and now I will take some time to get back to writing myself.